Vice President JD Vance has come under fire for what many are calling a “disgraceful” gesture on live television.
Shortly after President Donald Trump used explicit language while speaking to reporters about the ongoing Middle East conflict on Tuesday, June 24, Vance made an inappropriate gesture during a speech in his hometown at a Republican dinner event in Ohio.
Vance told the crowd, “I know it’s not always easy to be a political candidate, trust me.
In Washington, D.C., they have this thing, I think it means we’re No.1 in Washington, D.C.,” before raising his middle finger.
He continued, “But all the pink-haired people throw up this sign, and I think that means we’re no.1, right? I choose to take that as a symbol in Washington.”
Many people criticized Vance’s rude hand sign. One person commented on Twitter, “Remember when presidents and administrations weren’t vulgar, and actually set good manners for the world?”
Another wrote, “JD Vance and Trump are both a disgrace to America!!!”
A third person added, “Between JD and President Trump, they are really making their point clear today,” while a fourth noted, “JD Vance just threw up the MIDDLE FINGER live on national TV.”
Vance’s controversial moment happened shortly after President Trump gave a fiery press interview about the Iran-Israel conflict, which the United States has now become more involved in.
A journalist had asked Trump about Iran possibly breaking the ceasefire deal, and whether he still believed peace was achievable.
Trump replied, “Yes, I do believe [Iran is still committed to peace]. They violated it, but Israel violated it too.”
He elaborated, “As soon as we made the deal, Israel came out and dropped a load of bombs the likes of which I had never seen before. The biggest load we have ever seen.”
Trump went on to say, “I’m not happy with Israel. When I say you have 12 hours, you don’t go out in the first hour and just drop everything you have on them. So I am not happy with them, I am not happy with Iran either, but I am really unhappy if Israel is going out this morning.”
As reporters tried to ask more questions, Trump continued, saying, “We basically have two countries that have been fighting for so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f**k they are doing, do you understand that?”
Despite the heated words, the ceasefire between Iran and Israel appears to be holding. Later, Trump posted on Truth Social:
“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect! Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
